Elijah Clark returned to his office, sinking into his chair. His eyes scanned the patient list on the desk, but his mind was elsewhere.
After a long pause, he pushed the list aside. He pulled his phone from his white coat pocket and dialed a number.
"Ryan, it's me. I need you to drop everything for the new company for an hour. Investigate Daniel Taylor's schedule from Oasis Holdings for this past month. I want a detailed report. Got it?"
"Is this a new order from the boss?"
"No. It's personal, not related to the new company. But it matters to me. Don't screw this up."
"Understood, boss."
Elijah ended the call and walked to the window, staring out at the city below.
Daniel Taylor, you'd better pray I don't find out what you did to Emma. If I do, I'll make sure you regret ever being born as the prince of Oasis Holdings.
"Why are only the two of you back? Didn't Amelia go with you to pick her up?"
Henry Williams looked at Liam and Emma, confusion written on his face.
"She had plans with a friend, so she didn't come back with us."
Emma glanced at Liam, surprised by how calmly he lied. His face showed no hint of guilt.
Liam caught the look on Emma's face. Who do you think I'm doing this for? he thought. If the old man finds out I made Amelia cry because of you, I'll get an earful at best. If he gets more upset with you, it'll be even harder for you to stay in this family.
Henry accepted Liam's explanation without suspicion. He simply asked after Emma's well-being before heading to his study.
"Are you sure that's okay?" Emma asked quietly. "What if your sister comes back and tells your father the truth? Won't he be angry?"
"Don't worry. The old man doesn't bother with trivial things like that. He won't ask again."
The men in the Williams family were never the type to meddle in women's affairs. That's why there were so many generals among them.
Liam led Emma upstairs. She noticed the room had been cleaned up. He's actually quite thoughtful, she thought, feeling a wave of emotion.
"Dr. Moore will be here in an hour. Let him check you over properly. Once you're fully recovered, we'll have a proper wedding."
There was a tenderness in Liam's voice that Emma hadn't heard before.
"A wedding?" she repeated. Then I hope I don't get into another car accident, she almost added.
"Since we're getting married, we should do it right. Don't all women look forward to weddings? Why are you running away from it?"
"No, I'm just... just—"
Emma hesitated, unable to voice her thoughts.
"Don't worry. It won't happen again. Be good and lie down for a while. Christopher has already put the documents in my study. I need to review them. When Dr. Moore arrives, I'll be with you the whole time."
Liam guessed that Emma was afraid of another wedding because of the car accident. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. His lips were cold against her warm skin, and he felt the warmth almost melt away the chill inside him.
It was hard to pull away.
Watching Liam leave the room, Emma stood still for a moment.
After a while, she let out a soft sigh.
Liam, have you forgotten that our marriage is only for a year? It's just a formality. Why do you have to take it so seriously?
Christopher Martin had been waiting in the study for a long time. When Liam walked in, he handed over the documents.
Liam glanced at them and tossed them aside.
He sat down in the swivel chair, leaning back. One arm rested on the edge of the desk, and his long index finger tapped rhythmically on the surface.
Christopher watched his boss's thin lips press together and his eyes close. He knew Liam was thinking and shouldn't be disturbed.
So he stood silently to the side. In the vast study, the only sound was the soft, steady tapping of Liam's finger on the desk.
"You've found her."
Liam opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them.
"Yes, sir. The woman is twenty-eight. She's a top graduate from Harvard Business School. She grew up in an orphanage. She's ambitious, but her background holds her back. She's currently working as an executive at a bank."
A satisfied smile curled Liam's lips.
"Ambition is good. It gives people drive. I didn't expect the old master of the Taylor family to have a young aunt the same age as Daniel. Interesting. Very interesting."
Christopher rarely saw such an expression on his boss's face. It was like a sharp blade, carrying the same deadly intent as a soldier's weapon.
"Arrange for someone to tell the woman about her true parentage. Get a copy of her DNA as soon as possible. In seven days, we'll inform the major companies that Pinnacle Corporation is hosting a business cocktail party. Make a gilded invitation card. Deliver it to Mr. Taylor in person. Make sure he attends. Let him know that Pinnacle Corporation is very interested in doing business with Oasis Holdings."
"Are you sure about this, sir?"
"Since Daniel Taylor dared to provoke me, he should be ready for the consequences. I, Liam Williams, don't stoop to playing dirty tricks in the business world. I want him to meet his little aunt at the reception. I want him to know that Oasis Holdings has another powerful successor besides him. And that person is the one we're going to support."
"If we choose that woman as our contact between Pinnacle and Oasis, then Mr. Taylor will have no choice but to consider her as a candidate for succession."
Christopher looked at his boss with admiration. Isn't this a bit too obvious? he thought. Slapping him in the face like this?
In the next few months, news about the Taylor family's illegitimate child would spread all over the city. Daniel Taylor would have a hard time dealing with that.
In the past, how could someone like that have caught the president's attention? Although the Taylor family was well-known in the city, they were clearly no match for Pinnacle.
It seems my boss, with his military background, never stoops to using underhanded tricks. But I'm afraid this might be even harder to bear.
"What Daniel Taylor is most proud of is his status as the heir to Oasis Holdings. If I take that away, I want to see how arrogant he can be. I want him to remember that Emma is my woman. He can't touch her whenever he wants."
Liam's voice was cold and merciless.